Gum Recession, Cause, Cures, and Prevention

March 8th, 2017

Teeth usually get all the glory when it comes to talking about oral hygiene. However, your gum line should never be neglected! Taking care of your gums is an essential part of keeping your teeth happy and clean.

Gum Recession and Disease

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is any disease that caused by an infection or illness in your gum line. Gums are critical for providing teeth with a stable anchoring point, and a receding gum line can cause tooth pains and potentially tooth loss. Receding gum lines is often a direct consequence of gum diseases, of which the causes are plentiful. However, most of these issues can be attributed in one way or another to bacterial plaques that form on the surface on teeth and gums. These plaques feast on the leftover particles of food and other goodies that are left in your mouth, eventually eating into your teeth and gums themselves.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Early signs that something is wrong with your gums are characterized by redness or swelling, or if your gums tend to bleed easily when flossing and are tender to the touch. Genetics plays a role in determining how susceptible you are to developing serious periodontal diseases, but lifestyle choices are the major factor. Smoking or chewing tobacco has been correlated with a high risk of gum disease for many years. Diet, exercise, and medications can also be factors. Pregnancy is a vulnerable time for your gumline, as the changes in hormone levels changes the pH and characteristics of saliva, which can impact the quality of your gum line.

What Can I Do About it?

Brushing your teeth is the best and the most obvious answer! The whole point of brushing is to physically scrape away the bacterial films that grow on your teeth and prevent them from chewing into your gums. Flossing daily is critical for making sure that you also rid your mouth of any bacteria hiding in nooks or crannies (I’m looking at you, molars!) Finally, a good rinse with any mouthwash will round off the process, catching and eradicating any strays.

Maintaining a healthy gum line is a simple process as long as basic oral hygiene is being observed. Brushing twice daily, flossing, and using mouthwash will generally keep the bacteria away. The best way to make sure you’re doing all that you need to be doing is to book an appointment with your dentist! Bow Trail Dental is here to help you with all your oral health needs. Call us today at (403)240-1257!